JUNE 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Kyle Macdonald
415-788-3666, x125
kylemac@bawt.org
Innovative BAWTmobiles Offer Affordable Transportation
to get Youth Outdoors
City CarShare and Bay Area Wilderness Training Pool Resources to Serve Youth
SAN FRANCISCO, CA, (San Francisco, CA) Here in the Bay Area, where we often pay the highest gas prices in the nation, transportation issues get lots of attention. But for many youth workers it turns out, transportation is more than just expensive, it is often the missing link in efforts to get kids to nature. Short trips across the Golden Gate, or even across San Francisco from The Bayview neighborhood to the Presidio have been near impossible. But now there’s a new, innovative solution to this barrier, called the BAWTmobile. This aptly named problem-solver is part of a groundbreaking program that was recently launched by two San Francisco based non-profit organizations- City CarShare and Bay Area Wilderness Training (BAWT).
Reports citing childhood obesity, rising rates of attention deficit disorder, low self-esteem and a dramatically decreased connection to the natural world among our youth, are unfortunately abundant these days. An increasing body of evidence, much of it cited in Richard Louv’s book Last Child in the Woods- Saving our Children from Nature Deficit Disorder, is pointing to a seemingly simple solution to all of these complex problems: take kids to green spaces so they can explore, play and learn nature.
The BAWTmobiles are two, all-wheel-drive minivans that were purchased by BAWT and placed into City CarShare’s fleet of shared vehicles. Through the BAWTmobile program, teachers and youth educators can join City CarShare as BAWT approved members. As members, they simply reserve the BAWTmobiles online, access them and go. This unique program allows youth educators to avoid legal, administrative and financial drawbacks that are often obstacles to taking outdoor field trips. And since they are sharing the BAWTmobiles with all City CarShare members, they get to decrease their eco-footprint too. Theadora Ildifanzo, who is a youth worker in Visitation Valley, with Real Options for City Kids says “We’re running three summer camps this summer. Not having to rent more expensive vans, and having the added flexibility of this car share program will make all the difference.”
The program compliments Bay Area Wilderness Training’s existing programs, which provide wilderness skills training and free outdoor gear loans for youth educators. “This partnership helps us take our support services to the next level and will help get hundreds more kids outdoors” says Kyle Macdonald, CEO of BAWT. “City CarShare has amazing systems that manage and maintain the vehicles so they can be shared by both youth workers and all of City Car Share’s members.”
As with all car share services, gas, maintenance and insurance are included with membership. “We’re very pleased to extend car sharing in a way that supports healthy activities among youth through our partnership with BAWT. With rising gas prices adding to transportation costs, we’re especially delighted that local youth educators can now save money while gaining easier, more eco-friendly access to the outdoors,” said Rick Hutchinson, CEO of City CarShare.
In the average American home, the television is on for well over 8 hours everyday, according Nielsen Media Research. And according to BAWT, unplugging the set and reconnecting kids to nature has become more important than ever. By getting outdoors through a car share program, Bay Area kids are already taking a step towards a more sustainable world.
About BAWT
Bay Area Wilderness Training (BAWT), a non-profit project of San Francisco’s Earth Island Institute, facilitates outdoor experiences for youth in the greater Bay Area. BAWT provides professional training courses for adult youth workers in skills necessary to conduct safe, high quality wilderness trips for the young people they serve and a comprehensive library of outdoor gear leaders can utilize to outfit their trips free of charge. For more information, contact Kyle Macdonald at (415) 788-3666 ext.125 or visit the Bay Area Wilderness Training Web site at www.bawt.org.
About City CarShare
City CarShare, a local nonprofit organization, has proven to be a popular, effective and green alternative transportation option for the Bay Area. A federally funded UC Berkeley study found that City CarShare members drive 49% less than those that own cars. Based on more results from the study, City CarShare estimates that its members, who share hundreds of conveniently located vehicles, save about a million gallons of gas and reduce 25+ million pounds of CO2 emissions each year. Visit www.citycarshare.org
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Contributed by Kyle Macdonald